English Grammar
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES with 'OUT'
Set phrases introduced by the preposition 'out'.
Prepositonal phrases with 'out', with their meaning and examples of use.
Prepositional phrases are set phrases or groups of words introduced by a preposition.
| Prepositional phrase | Meaning | Example |
| Out of bounds | Beyond the limits. A prohibited area. |
Paul sent the ball out of bounds. The ballroom is out of bounds. |
| Out of breath | To breathe with difficulty. | Julia ran all the way home and arrived out of breath. |
| Out of character | Not typical of a person; unusual behaviour. | Andy is acting out of character today. |
| Out of control | Unmanageable | The children were totally out of control. |
| Out of danger | No longer at risk. | The patient is out of danger now. |
| Out of date | No longer valid or fashionable. Too old to be used. |
Everything in her wardrobe is out of date. Their technology is totally out of date. |
| Out of your depth | Be in a situation that exceeds your ability. | The level of the class was too high for me, so very quickly I felt out of my depth. |
| Out of fashion | No longer fashionable or popular. | That style went out of fashion a long time ago. |
| Out of hand | Uncontrollable. | We must deal with the situation before it gets out of hand. |
| Out of line | Unacceptable or inappropriate | Tony’s comment was totally out of line! |
| Out of luck | Unlucky; unfortunate. | You’re out of luck today. We don't have any left. |
| Out of necessity | Because it's necessary. | Alex has two jobs out of necessity. |
| Out of order | Does not work. | The phone is out of order. |
| Out of the question | Inconceivable; cannot be envisaged. | Private medical care is out of the question. |
| Out of place | Inappropriate. | Jeans are out of place at a formal dinner. |
| Out of practice | Have not been exercising a skill. | I can’t play the piano any more. I’m out of practice. |
| Out of print | No longer available from publisher | I’m afraid the book is out of print. |
| Out of reach | Too high to reach. | The jug was out of reach on the top shelf. |
| Out of season | No longer in season. | Strawberries are out of season now. |
| Out of sight | No longer visible. | She waved until he was out of sight. |
| Out of sorts | Feeling unwell or upset. | Paula looks out of sorts today. |
| Out of stock | Unavailable for sale because they have all been sold. | Sorry. The new version is already out of stock. |
| Out of touch | Not aware of events; not in contact. | I’ve been travelling for six months so I’m completely out of touch with everything. |
| Out of tune | Not the right notes. | It’s awful. She’s singing out of tune. |
| Out of turn | Not in the correct order. | Please wait. Don’t speak out of turn. |
| Out of work | Not have a job. | Many people are out of work in this area. |
More Prepositional Phrases:
See also: Prepositions
Try these online exercises: at-on-in at-for-from-in into-onto-off-over-up